Gennaro Gattuso has expressed his frustration over Granada’s perceived negative approach to last night’s Europa League after Napoli crashed out of the competition.
Granada knocked Napoli out of the elite competition after a 3-2 aggregate win, despite losing 2 – 1 at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in the second leg of their last – 32 encounter on Thursday.
Gattuso insisted that an Italian team “would get slaughtered in all the papers” if they played the way Granada did, while also accusing them of time-wasting and failing to show “respect” on the continental stage.
“We conceded an absurd goal today, it was three against one in the box. I can’t remember any other chances for Granada. We have to be proud of what we showed,” Gattuso told Sky Sport Italia.
“Those who represent us need to make themselves respected a bit more – if an Italian team played like Granada tonight, they would get slaughtered in all the papers. There needs to be respect, today they wasted too much time, three minutes at every opportunity.
“I’m angry not because we lost, but because there was very little play.”
Granada stunned Napoli 2 – 0 in the first leg of the tie at Los Carmenes on February 18.
Napoli seemed to have given supporters hope of a comeback when Piotr Zielinski fired low into the bottom corner from just outside the box after a great run.
However, Granada grabbed an all-important away goal 22 minutes later through Angel Montoro, who found the far corner of the net with a superb header.
Fabian Ruiz put the hosts in front just before the hour mark with a neat finish, but Napoli ultimately failed to score the two further goals needed to progress to the round of 16.
Gattuso’s rein has come under severe scrutiny in recent months, as there have been calls for the club to make a change in the dugout.
One time coaches of the Naples club Maurizio Sarri and Rafael Benitez have been linked with a potential move to the Stadio Armando Maradona.
